Nutrition Information for Dim Sum

By
Jill Corleone

About the Author:

Jill Corleone

Jill Corleone is a registered dietitian and health coach who has been writing and lecturing on diet and health for more than 15 years. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Diabetes Self-Management and in the book "Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation," edited by John R. Bach, M.D. Corleone holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition.

A Chinese Dim Sum, served during tea time, gives you the opportunity to try a variety of different Chinese foods in small portions. It is often served as an appetizer and you can also find Dim Sum restaurants that build an entire meal around this treat. However, many of these food items are fried and filled with high-fat meats. Knowing the nutrition information for various items on a Chinese Dim Sum menu can help you track and balance your intake.

Dim Sum Foods

A Dim Sum is commonly thought of as steamed dumplings, but it includes more than just dumplings. Chinese Dim Sum can include a variety of food items such as steamed buns filled with meat and vegetables, an assortment of dumplings, spring rolls, chicken feet, sticky rice and shui mai.

Steamed Buns

One steamed barbecue pork bun contains 150 calories, 4 grams of total fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 1 gram of polyunsaturated fat, 160 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Three steamed shrimp and pork buns contains 170 calories, 7 grams of total fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 340 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber and 8 grams of protein. Many items on a Chinese menu are high in sodium. High intakes of sodium increase your risk of blood pressure. Try to limit your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day. If you have high blood pressure you should limit yourself to 1,500 milligrams per day.

Dumplings

Shui mai is a steamed dumpling filled with pork and shrimp. One shui mai dumpling contains 105 calories, 8 grams of total fat, 229 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of protein. One steamed shrimp or prawn dumpling contains 35 calories, 2 gram of total fat, 136 milligrams of sodium, 3 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of protein.

Chicken Feet

Chicken feet can also be found at a Chinese Dim Sum. A 100-gram portion of steamed chicken feet contains 215 calories, 15 grams of total fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 67 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber and 19 grams of protein.